Next to the last blog post

Well, this is the next to the last blog post for me as a contestant in the Slimdown Showdown. In really enjoyed answering everyone’s questions yesterday, and I will be happy to continue answering any new ones that you might have today, so ask away.

The last 5 days have been challenging. I hurt something in my back and it’s healing VERY slowly, so I’ve had to take it really easy. I was FINALLY able to get back to the gym today for the first time since last Friday, and it was really good to get moving again. I was careful not to do anything that would compromise my back’s recovery, and it felt like a light workout, but I still burned 700+ calories for the workout and 971 total for the day. I really like that 971 calories is a “normal” day for me now. I have been plateaued at around 293-294 lbs for 4-5 days now, and I’m hoping that returning to the gym and a little drop in calorie consumption will push me on to the next level.

I know that some of the other contestants have lost more weight than I have, but I’m making great changes in BMI and body fat, and my blood pressure and cholesterol are both so low that my doc is going to reduce my dose or take me off them entirely after the contest ends. And of course, you guys are kicking ass on the comments, so I may well be still in the running on this thing.

And there IS no way to lose here. The opportunity that the wonderful team from H.E.B. gave me when they picked me to be a part of this year’s challenge has set me up so that I have the tools to make real, lasting lifestyle changes. Changes that will not only produce significant weight loss, but will also become a part of how I life my life from now on. There is nothing about what I have done for the past 14 weeks that is not COMPLETELY sustainable indefinitely. That is the plan, by the way… indefinitely.

I’m shooting for 100lbs of weight loss by the end of the year, so even thought the contest is ending next week, the work has just begun.